Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for the reviews. You keep me going. You make me so happy.

Rhett and Scarlett are both growing.

Chapter Twelve

At the end of December, Rhett gave Scarlett the ring he had picked out for her all those years ago in London. She smiled a sad smile and said, "The girl I was in Atlanta would have loved it. She might have thought it was a little big but she would have loved making everyone else 'pea green with envy.' I cannot accept it. It is too big. Turn it into a broach. Then I will be able to wear it on special occasions like when you take me to that damn opera house." Scarlett knew Rhett really loved her. Why else would he have kept that tasteless ring?

Rhett didn't even try to change her mind about the ring. He thought the ring was so big it was vulgar so he was glad she didn't want it. He put the ring away.

Rhett smiled at her use of the word 'damn.' She must really hate the opera. He smiled because he knew she would go with him because he was sure she still liked getting all dressed up.

A week after he took the vulgar ring back, he had presented her with an emerald with diamonds around it as an engagement ring. She thought it was the perfect size. She accepted it. He also gave her the broach made from the other ring. She thought it was lovely. She thanked him for the gifts and told him she loved him too. For the next week Rhett was walking on air. His dream had finally come true.

People in Texas were prospering especially in Galveston. The war had not hit Texas as hard as Georgia, South Carolina or Virginia. There had been no major battles fought in Texas. Although the Texans had own slaves there hadn't been the large plantations. There had not been the devastation that other parts of the south suffered. It had been over five years since the end of the war. Texas had already become part of the union again in March of eighteen seventy although there were still Yankees stationed in the state.

In the spring Rhett and Scarlett built their house and planned their wedding. They also went to the circus which they both enjoyed. They attended many live performances of poets, comedians and ventriloquists. There was a lecturer, John Byrd, who came to Galveston and spoke on Charles Darwin's theories. After the lecture a select number of people met at the home of one of the dowagers. Rhett and Scarlett had been chosen to attended. Most people there thought Darwin was a heretic. Rhett did an amazing job of participating in the discussion without making anyone mad or resorting to sarcasm. As Rhett took Scarlett home, he said, "If that doesn't prove I love you then nothing will."

She replied, "I am so proud of you I didn't think you had it in you to restrain yourself for so long."

They went to a social and Scarlett stood beside Rhett and never flirted with anyone. On the way home he said, "That proved you loved me. You didn't flirt with anyone."

She replied, "Except you" and smiled her coquettish smile that Rhett loved.

Oscar Winter gave a whist party and Scarlett and Rhett were really big winners. Oscar's wife Jewell said, "It's amazing how well you did. It is like y'all think alike." The couple smiled and Rhett said, "Think what we will be like after we have known each other for a couple of years."

Sophia told Scarlett that everyone thought Rhett and Scarlett were such a cute couple. They were so happy she was no longer melancholic over her husband's death.

Scarlett smiled and said. "It is nice that I am no longer sad. Rhett was just what I needed."

Rhett would go to the store and pester Scarlett to take the day off and go to Houston with him or go sailing with him. Most of the time she would succumb to his pestering and teasing because she liked spending time with him but sometimes, she was just too busy. She would then tell him to go take the children on an adventure and he would. Rhett liked her children. He had decided that after they were married, Wade and Ella were going to call him Papa.

The first week of January of eighteen seventy-one Rhett had come to the store to show her his plans for their house. It was in a Victorian design. She told him she wanted it to look like a Swiss Chalet. He told her absolutely not. They compromised and settled on a Queen Anne design. He wanted the outside to be brown she wanted it to be teal. They compromised and the house was brown with teal trim. Scarlett wanted to get a piano for Wade but Rhett suggested a guitar instead and she agreed. Scarlett had an extra-large bed made and Rhett agreed. They had closets installed which was a new invention. The house was made of brick instead of wood. Rhett wanted area rugs and Scarlett wanted carpeting. Rhett won that argument. Rhett wanted to give Scarlett whatever she wanted but he wanted to feel comfortable in his home also. He remembered his father in law's advice. "My Katie Scarlett is a spirited girl that needs a firm hand but not too firm" and stood his ground on things that were really important to him. Rhett also knew that Scarlett didn't appreciate things that were easily obtained.

Scarlett wanted to decorate the inside like a picture she had seen in a magazine. Rhett refused. He said it was too brassy and jarring. She settled for the main color being brown and lots of different accent colors. Rhett actually liked it.

Rhett had even had indoor plumbing installed and a little device to heat water for her to easily take a bath. He did have an oversize tub installed so he could take a bath with her.

The view from the master bedroom was amazing. Their room was at a corner of the house and two of the walls were windows from top to bottom. Scarlett had agreed because of the beautiful view not realizing that their room faced the east so every morning by seven the master bedroom was filled with sunlight. Rhett was always awake by this time so it didn't bother him at all. There were many mornings that Rhett was greeted by his wife cursing him. After two years they moved their bedroom down the hall and turned the room into a sitting room. It was their favorite room in the house.

Rhett had built the ground up almost twenty feet where their home was going to be built. He had brought in enough dirt to create a one hundred feet square base for the house to sit on. Scarlett really like the look. It made their home look like a house on a hill and everyone in the city could see it. Scarlett still did like people being a little bit envious of her. When Scarlett had asked Rhett why he had done it he had said, "So when a hurricane makes land fall our house will not be flooded." Rhett then explained to Scarlett what a hurricane was and all the interesting information in regard to them. At least it was interesting to Rhett but when he saw Scarlett's eyes glaze over, he supposed she was not as fascinated as him. He ended their discussion shortly thereafter.

At first people on the island thought they had done it to show off their new home. Although Galveston was the richest city in Texas Rhett had enough people smarts to know not to rub their wealth in everyone's face. He wanted the people to think their house was just a little bit better than everyone else's. Rhett Butler did quite the campaigning to explain why he had done what he had done. The hill became known as Butler's Blunder. Rhett had always been a good judge of people and he knew that he and Scarlett were better off being laughed at than it looking like they were showing off their wealth. Truth was they were laughing at him not Scarlett which worked out just fine. She still didn't like being the brunt of a joke but she was alright with him being the brunt of the joke. When people would say something about it to her. She would roll her eyes and say, "Men" whoever she was talking to would laugh and walk away.

They argued over every aspect of the house but when it was finished, they both liked it. In the midst of these arguments Rhett had to be reminded of Rule #1 often. Occasionally Rhett had to remind Scarlett that Rule #1 applied to her also. She could not call him names. Occasionally Rhett would have to remind Scarlett that her flirting with all the men in the room was disrespectful to him. Rhett knew she wasn't intentionally disrespecting him but she occasionally needed to be reminded that she wasn't the belle of five counties any more but an engaged woman.

Scarlett did go with Rhett for the grand opening of the Tremont Opera House in February of eighteen seventy-one. She wore her diamond broach and got lots of compliments on it. The fact that it was strategically placed at the end of her V-neckline increased the number of compliments she got also but her breasts were completely covered up. The girl she had been in Atlanta would have been risqué and improper probably showing all there was to see of her endowments but not the woman. There was no doubt of her figure but it was tastefully displayed.

Before their wedding Scarlett had sold all her property in Galveston and converted the money into U.S. bonds. She then put all her holdings in a trust fund for Wade and Ella and made herself the trustee. Austin Forrest told her that her moneys were safe. She hoped so. Rhett had signed the waiver but Scarlett wanted to be doubly sure her financial assets were protected. She trusted Rhett. She really did but her last husband had stolen her money and that was hard to forget.

Scarlett and Rhett were going to get married in the Catholic church and the priest required they undergo religious counseling. After the first week that the Banns were read the couple met with the priest Father O'Brien every Monday afternoon for six weeks. After the first session the priest had told Rhett he would need to keep his questions and statements on the topic of marriage. The priest also said, "I would appreciate it, Mr. Butler, if you would keep your mockery to the minimum."

To which Scarlett had replied, "That is the minimum."

To which Rhett had grinned.

Father O'Brien said he would be happy to discuss Rhett's other questions and thoughts in regard to religion at a one on one session. Then Father O'Brien arranged for Rhett to come back in two days for those discussions. Rhett did return and enjoyed his discussions with Father O'Brien so much so that he continued to visit with the priest even after the wedding. After the first visit the men met at Tim's house and later Rhett's home where the whiskey was of a better quality. The men had move to other theological and philosophical matters. The priest was a well-read man and made some persuasive arguments in support of the actuality of God. The priest had not used the bible at all in his arguments which impressed Rhett.

Father O'Brien was an older man of about fifty-five who had come to the priesthood late in life. The priest had been a teacher before he had become a priest. When he was thirty, he had lost his wife and children to disease and questioned if there really was a God and if there was why did he let bad things happen. Since the priest had been a well-read, knowledgeable man, he had thoroughly researched the topic. This quest led Father O'Brien to a greater faith and eventually to the priesthood.

Scarlett and Rhett were married at St. Mary's Cathedral in April of eighteen seventy-one. They had a Nuptial Mass. Rhett's mother and sister had come all the way from Charleston for the wedding. They had spent three days traveling to attend the ceremony. As Elizabeth Butler had said, "I never thought this day was going to happen. I wasn't going to miss it for the world."

Scarlett had wanted Melanie to stand up with her but Ashley had been unable to leave Atlanta for the time needed for the trip. Melanie could not make the trip by herself. Scarlett had agreed that Melly wasn't assertive enough to make the trip alone but she was very disappointed anyway. Since Rhett had asked Tim Dalton to be his best man, she asked Sophia to be her matron of honor.

When Mammy was helping Scarlett dress for her wedding, she told Scarlett, "Captain Butler has turned into a good man. He will take care of you."

"Does this mean you will be nice to him after the wedding?"

"Oh, Lordy no Miss Scarlett he will have to grovel a few more years before I let him know I approve of him." Mammy and Scarlett laughed. Mammy was happy with the changes in her little lamb. Since Captain Butler had started courting her a lot more of the spirit and life had come back to Miss Scarlett. She was feistier and she was laughing more. She was still the mature woman she had become since Mr. Kennedy's death but Mammy could see the child in her again.

Scarlett had told Mammy that she would have to sit with Wade and Ella during the ceremony. When Mammy had pushed back saying, "It wouldn't be proper."

Scarlett had said, "I need you to sit with Ella and Wade to make sure they behave during the ceremony."

Mammy had agreed knowing full well that both Ella and Wade would have behaved through the entire ceremony even without her presence in the pew. She did want to see her little lamb get married.

The gentry of Galveston were a little surprised at how fast they had gotten married but things weren't like they were before the war with long engagements. Everyone remarked about how comfortable they seemed with each other almost as if they had known each other for years. They had a lavish wedding and reception which they planned together and argued over every detail. Rhett had managed to keep it modest, simple, and a tasteful affair. Rhett had allowed it to be more opulent and showier than he would have in Atlanta because Galveston's gentry were not dirt poor like in Atlanta. Of course, none of the gentry in Atlanta would have attended their wedding.

Scarlett had not been trying to make anyone 'pea green with envy.' She just liked ostentatious, flashy, extravagant things. Rhett was glad that frivolous girl was still in there. Scarlett was happy with all the arrangements for the wedding so Rhett decided it was a good compromise. This was going to be their life, one compromise after another.

All the Galveston gentry had expected an invitation to the wedding. That let Rhett know that he had been received. He was happy. He was marrying Scarlett and she had said she loved him. They had a home that he liked.

They had their reception in their new home. Neither party had moved into the house yet. It was a wedding reception and an open house all in one. Every member of polite society accepted the invitation. Scarlett had Tony and Fran Romano cater the reception. For weeks afterward Romano's was so full that Tony had to turn people away.